Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
In the United States, recent data show that rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reached an all-time high in 2018 among both females and males, and all racial and ethnic groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of combined cases of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia was more than 2.4 million in 2018, up from 1.8 million in 2013; half of these STIs are among youth. While these STIs have grown considerably over the past five years, human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with 79 million Americans infected, most in their late teens and early 20s.
The current rise of STIs is a serious public health concern that requires immediate attention. If left untreated, STIs can lead to severe health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), increased risk of getting HIV, certain cancers, and even infertility.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) through the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) is coordinating, along with other federal partners, the development of an inaugural federal action plan for STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care designed to meet substantial, achievable and measurable goals to improve outcomes. The proposed release date for the STI National Strategic Plan (STI Plan) is 2020.
